Fiber optics light source

ABSTRACT

A fiber optics light source of compact, flat configuration comprises a narrow lamphouse including lamp, reflector and condenser aligned for focusing into the receiving end of a fiber optics bundle, and an air impeller mounted laterally of the lamphouse to direct air over the lamp for dissipating heat buildup. The light source may be built into a dental chair or the like, or it may be a separate module.

Elnited States Patent 1191 Kuyt 1 May 15, 1973 54 FIBER OPTICS LIGHTSOURCE 3,382,353 5/1968 Wappler ..240 1 EL T 3,596,083 7/1971 Lovering..240/l EL [75] Invent Fms Rochester 3,180,981 4/1965 Ulffers ..240/47[73] Assignee: Bausch 81 Lomb Incorporated, 3,397,457 8/1968 Gosselin...240/4l.5 X Rochester, 3,506,820 4/1970 Shannon ..240/4 [22] Fil Julie1970 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Richard L.Moses 21 A l. N 45,367 1 pp 0 Att0rney- Frank C. Parker [52] US. Cl..240/47, 240/1 EL, 240/41.15, [57] BSTRACT 350 96 B [51] Int Cl F21,49/00 A fiber optics light source of compact, flat configura- [58]Fie'ld 1 EL 4 tion comprises a narrow lamphouse including lamp, 41 3 8reflector and condenser aligned for focusing into the receiving end of afiber optics bundle, and an air impeller mounted laterally of thelamphouse to direct air [56] References cued over the lamp fordissipating heat buildup. The light UNITED T S N S source may be builtinto a dental chair or the like, or

it ma be a se arate module. l,930,993 10/1933 Blodgett ..240/l.4 X y p 1Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU HAY 515175 SHEET 1 UP 3 FRITS KUYTINVENTOR.

ATTOR N EY FIBER OPTICS LIGHT SOURCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1)Field of the Invention The field of my invention is illuminating devicesand more specifically light sources for fiber optics or cladrod lightconduits.

(2) Description of the Prior Art Practitioners of the healing arts havealways complained of the lack of light available when probing into theirpatients body cavities and until the advent of fiber optics lightconduits there have been no very satisfactory solutions. Batteries ofoperating room lights are often employed and they are suitable forgeneral illumination. Unfortunately, such lights are very bright andoften cause discomfort to a patient who remains conscious during theprocedures requiring such illumination. Additionally, the benefit ofsuch lamps is often lost when the practitioners shadow is cast over thecritical area, particularly if that area is a body cavity. It is notsatisfactory to employ auxiliary lighting fixtures beneath thepractitioner since these are bulky and hot and tend to get in thepractitioners way. Fiber optics illuminators, then, being small, cool,and flexible offer a unique solution for this requirement.

If fiber optics, or clad-rod, illumination is to be employed, however,it is necessary that a suitable light source be made available close athand since the loss of light through a length of light conduit increaseswith distance and becomes quite significant in relatively few feet.Accordingly, it would become necessary to bring a light source, with itsheat and bulk, close to the patient.

Existing light sources for fiber optics light conduits are made formounting on a floor or table. Therefore, much of the advantage whichfiber optics gives the health practitioner is offset by the need tocontend with the light source, which tends to get under foot and whichoften emits heat, noises and vibrations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, I have invented an extremelycompact and convenient light source for fiber optics or clad-rod lightconduits which is so small that it may be combined with and structurallyencased in a chair for supporting a patient during examination, butwhich yet has all the requisites and power of conventional lightsources. A high-intensity lamp which is also compact in size,particularly in the width of its envelope, such as a quartzhalogen lampis mounted in a compact lamphouse which also carries prealignedauxiliary optics, a condensing lens system and a light reflecting, heattransmitting mirror for augmenting the lamps basic illumination. Thelamphouse mounting bracket is positioned to focus the light into thereceiving end of a fiber optics light conduit. Heat baffles in thelamphouse are aligned with an airflow path to permit rapid dissipationof heat from the lamp. The airflow is generated by an almost noiselessand vibration free, compact air impeller mounted in an expanding spiralframe for guiding the airflow over the lamp and out an exhaust port.Means are also provided for furnishing light to an auxiliary lightconduit which may be required for special purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair back, partly cut away, showing afiber optics light source according to my invention built into theenclosed part thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a complete practitioners chair showingsuch a light source in hidden lines.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of another embodiment of theinvention, a compact fiber optics light source unit separate from apractitioners chair, with the cover removed, partly in diagram, and withthe air impeller partly cut away.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views along lines 4-4 and 55 of FIG. 3,respectively.

In FIG. 1 is shown the back 10 of a patient supporting chair, as forinstance, a dental chair. The back section comprises a metal frame 12, aremovable cover 14, and an upholstery covered body 16. By operatingcontrols on a control panel 18, the practitioner may raise and lower thepatient as his procedures may require. A fiber optics light source unit20 is attached by means of brackets 22 to the body of the chair back.The cover 24 of the light source unit may be readily removed over studs26 for servicing of the components beneath.

Light generated within the light source unit is transmitted forillumination of the patient by means of a fiber optics bundle enclosedin a semi-rigid shield 28 having the properties of protecting the lightcarrying bundle beneath it and of holding the bundle yieldingly whereillumination is desired. The fiber optics bundle so enclosed passesthrough the frame 12 by means of a sleeve 30 fastened on the frame byany suitable means such as screws 32. An air inlet 34 is formed in theframe 12 to permit cooling air to be drawn into the unit. The air isexpelled through air duct 36.

Electricity for the lamp is furnished by means of transformer 38connected by suitable means to line current which may be activated bymeans of switch 40, remotely located on the frame 12.

A compact light source unit, suitable for attachment to an existingpractitioners chair, is shown in FIG. 3. Its interior components areessentially the same as those of the unit of FIGS. 1 and 2 andaccordingly the following description may be taken as applicable toboth.

A case 42 encloses the working components of the light source unit. Inthe walls of the case are air inlet port 44, an electrical connector 46,an air outlet port 48 and a light outlet 50. Lamphouse mounting tabs 52extend inwardly from the walls of the case. Slide fasteners 54 engagewith studs 56 to hold lamphouse mounting bracket 58 in alignment formaximizing the luminance. Lamp 60 is twistably inserted in socket 62whose mounting on lamphouse mounting bracket 58 is calculated to bringthe lamp 60 into correct alignment.

Light rays from the filament of lamp 60 are refracted when passingthrough first condenser lens 64 which is held in alignment by retainingtab 66 protruding from lamphouse rib member 68. After passing throughfirst condenser lens 64, the light rays are again refracted upon theirpassage through second condenser lens 70, which, being of relativelylarge diameter, is formed with flats 71 as shown in FIG. 3, in order tomaximize the illumination without increasing the thickness of the lightsource unit. The second condenser lens is held in optical alignment withthe other optical elements by means of retaining tab 72 protruding fromlamphouse rib member 74. The lamphouse rib members 68 and 74 arefastened to lamphouse mounting bracket 58 by any suitable means, such asrivets or spot welds, calculated to retain them in a fixed position,since the optical alignment of the illumination system depends upontheir alignment with mounting bracket 58. The light rays emerging fromsecond condenser lens 70 are brought together at focal zone 76 throughfocusing cone 78 whose angle of convergence is chosen to be compatiblewith the light acceptance cone of fiber optics light conduit 28.

Light conduit 28 is positioned so that the polished face of its bundleof optical fibers meet focal zone 76 by virtue of the edges of lightconduit ferrule 80 resting against internal shoulder 82 of coupling 84held in position on case 42 by any suitable means such as machine screws86.

The light emanating from lamp 60 is augmented by reflections from mirror88 which is held in alignment by retaining tab 90 protruding fromlamphouse rib member 92 which is affixed to lamphouse mounting bracket58 by some suitable means such as rivets or spot welds. A second imageof the lamp filament is formed by reflections from mirror 88 adjacent tothe filament of lamp 60 so that the image forming rays continue along apath similar to the rays coming directly from the lamp filament, i.e.,being refracted at first condenser lens 64 and at second condenser lens70 to be focused into focal zone 76.

The lamphouse is additionally comprised of a cover 94 which is formedintegrally with lamphouse mounting bracket 58 and serves as additionalsupport for the lamphouse rib members 68, 74 and 92. The housing 94extends from rib member 68 to rib member 92 at both the top and bottomof the lamphouse.

For sustained operation of my light source without discomfort to thepatient or those intimately near it, it is desirable to provide meansfor dissipating heat which is a radiation by-product of the lamp 60. Itis particularly important that heat not be conducted through the chairback to the patient and accordingly I have caused several members tocooperate for dissipating the heat.

Since the ordinary fan or air blower would be too bulky to fit into thesmall space available, an air impeller 96 of the miniature squirrel cagetype is employed to rotate in a plane laterally of the lamphouse. Mostcommonly such an impeller is constructed with an intake aperturecentrally positioned at one side of the squirrel cage rotor for an airinlet, with a motor on the other side of the squirrel cage to drive itfor centrifugal distribution of the air through an outlet for channelinga stream of air. To conserve space, I have mounted the motor 98 on thecase 42 beneath the impeller 96 and extending upward inside it. Motorshaft 100 extends upward through air baffle 101 and is secured by somesuitable means, as a pin or a press fit, to hub 102 of impeller 96. Airis drawn into the vortex of impeller 96 through aperture 103 locatedbeyond motor 98 in relation to air inlet port 44. Fan scroll 104 partlyencircles impeller 96 and cooperates with air baffle 101 to constrainthe air when the impeller 96 is activated. Portion 106 of the fan scroll104 extends toward the position of the lamp 60, leaving fan scroll 104in a generally spiral shape leading toward the lamp 60 and heat baffles108 which receive radiated heat from the lamp. In op eration cooling airis drawn through air inlet 34, if the unit is built-in to apractitioners chair, through air inlet port 44, and across the motor 98to carry away heat deriving from operation of the motor. The air passesthrough aperture 103 and is driven by impeller 96 along the unfoldingspiral portion 106 over the lamp and heat baffles to carry heat away byconvection through air outlet port 48 and down air duct 36.

It should be noticed that, in addition to the insulating effect of thechairs own material, I have provided three layers of material betweenthe lamp and the outside of my light source to protect the patient fromheat: heat baffles 108, cover 94 and case 42 (or cover 24).

While the main light conduit will provide excellent general illuminationwithin a body cavity while causing a minimum of interference with theactivities of a practitioner, it is sometimes desirable to haveavailable an auxiliary light conduit for special purposes. For instance,if the body cavity in question is to be entered with an instrument, itmay be desirable to have the instrument carry its own small lightconduit for particular illumination of the point at which the instrumentis to contact the patient. Such an instrument might be a dental drillwhich might carry such a light conduit for specific illumination of thetooth being drilled.

In order to provide for such an eventuality I have equipped coupling 84with auxiliary light port 110. It receives auxiliary light conduit 112and alignably holds it by some suitable means such as set screw 114.Auxiliary light conduit ferrule 116 protrudes into the focusing cone 78of light rays, and the ferrule is formed with bend 118 to present itsface squarely to the light source in order to maximize the illuminationit is to receive.

I claim:

1. A compact, high-intensity light source for a fiber opticsillumination system, comprising:

a. a case having protrusions therein for mounting a lamphouse, anddefining apertures in the walls of said case for receiving air, forexpelling air, and for light egress;

b. a lamphouse disposed within said case, and being demountabletherefrom, comprising:

1. a narrow mounting bracket having slots corresponding to saidprotrusions in said case, said mounting bracket being formed sealablywith said case and defining an aperture for the passage of air;

2. a socket disposed upon said mounting bracket for mounting andpositioning a high-intensity lamp;

3. a high-intensity lamp having a filament and a narrow envelope;

4. a reflector mounted in optical alignment with said high-intensitylamp for reflecting light back toward the filament of said lamp; 5. anoptical condenser lens mounted in optical alignment with said lamp,socket and reflector and focusing light from said lamp through saidlight egress aperture of said case;

6. a housing mounted upon said mounting bracket for holding saidreflector and said condenser, said housing defining a lamp chamberconnecting with said mounting bracket at said air passage aperture, andconnecting with said case at said air expelling aperture;

7. a heat baffle mounted upon said housing within said lamp chamber forreceiving heat from said lamp, said heat baffle comprising a sheet metalmember depending from said housing to define an aperture across saidlamp chamber for the passage of air around said sheet metal member to 56 carry off heat therefrom through said air expelpeller to said airpassage aperture; and ling aperture; e. coupling means on said case forcoupling a fiber a flatly formed air impeller disposed wlthm Sald opticsillumination conduit to said case at said light case laterally from saidlamphouse and adjacent to said air receiving aperture; 5 E s: ure ts diSad to s l d. a fan scroll sealably disposed within said case w ere ySal componen are SP0 uppy around Said air impeller and extendingspirally high-intensity light to said fiber optics illumination conwardsaid air passage aperture of said lamphouse duit While dispersing heatfrom Said pmounting bracket, for guiding air from said air im-

1. A compact, high-intensity light source for a fiber opticsillumination system, comprising: a. a case having protrusions thereinfor mounting a lamphouse, and defining apertures in the walls of saidcase for receiving air, for expelling air, and for light egress; b. alamphouse disposed within said case, and being demountable therefrom,comprising:
 1. a narrow mounting bracket having slots corresponding tosaid protrusions in said case, said mounting bracket being formedsealably with said case and defining an aperture for the passage of air;2. a socket disposed upon said mounting bracket for mounting andpositioning a high-intensity lamp;
 3. a high-intensity lamp having afilament and a narrow envelope;
 4. a reflector mounted in opticalalignment with said highintensity lamp for reflecting light back towardthe filament of said lamp;
 5. an optical condenser lens mounted inoptical alignment with said lamp, socket and reflector and focusinglight from said lamp through said light egress aperture of said case; 6.a housing mounted upon said mounting bracket for holding said reflectorand said condenser, said housing defining a lamp chamber connecting withsaid mounting bracket at said air passage aperture, and connecting withsaid case at said air expelling aperture;
 7. a heat baffle mounted uponsaid housing within said lamp chamber for receiving heat from said lamp,said heat baffle comprising a sheet metal member depending from saidhousing to define an aperture across said lamp chamber for the passageof air around said sheet metal member to carry off heat therefromthrough said air expelling aperture; c. a flatly formed air impellerdisposed within said case laterally from said lamphouse and adjacent tosaid air receiving aperture; d. a fan scroll sealably disposed withinsaid case around said air impeller and extending spirally toward saidair passage aperture of said lamphouse mounting bracket, for guiding airfrom said air impeller to said air passage aperture; and e. couplingmeans on said case for coupling a fiber optics illumination conduit tosaid case at said light egress aperture; whereby said components aredisposed to supply high-intensity light to said fiber opticsillumination conduit while dispersing heat from said lamp.
 2. a socketdisposed upon said mounting bracket for mounting and positioning ahigh-intensity lamp;
 3. a high-intensity lamp having a filament and anarrow envelope;
 4. a reflector mounted in optical alignment with saidhigh-intensity lamp for reflecting light back toward the filament ofsaid lamp;
 5. an optical condenser lens mounted in optical alignmentwith said lamp, socket and reflector and focusing light from said lampthrough said light egress aperture of said case;
 6. a housing mountedupon said mounting bracket for holding said reflector and saidcondenser, said housing defining a lamp chamber connecting with saidmounting bracket at said air passage aperture, and connecting with saidcase at said air expelling aperture;
 7. a heat baffle mounted upon saidhousing within said lamp chamber for receiving heat from said lamp, saidheat baffle comprising a sheet metal member depending from said housingto define an aperture across said lamp chamber for the passage of airaround said sheet metal member to carry off heat therefrom through saidair expelling aperture; c. a flatly formed air impeller disposed withinsaid case laterally from said lamphouse and adjacent to said airreceiving aperture; d. a fan scroll sealably disposed within said casearound said air impeller and extending spirally toward said air passageaperture of said lamphouse mounting bracket, for guiding air from saidair impeller to said air passage aperture; and e. coupling means on saidcase for coupling a fiber optics illumination conduit to said case atsaid light egress aperture; whereby said components are disposed tosupply high-intensity light to said fiber optics illumination conduitwhile dispersing heat from said lamp.